This is the year that I will live each day thankful for the life I live and the people in my life whether they be family, friends or strangers. We all make a difference in each other’s lives and I plan to let the Golden Rule be my guide…even more than I have in the past.

We had a wonderful Christmas, everyone was gracious and on good behavior. We had a houseful, after our big dinner, everyone sang Christmas carols by candlelight on Christmas Eve as we always do, It was special, I love to watch the young grandchildren’s faces as they carefully hold their candles and sing their hearts out. Only problem is they always want end the songs with “Grandma Got run Over by a Reindeer”!

I did not make any New Years Resolutions this year since I always forget them by Valentine’s Day anyway. I have eaten too much over the holidays and gained a few pounds. But I know I will take it off when I get back to my YMCA water aerobics class.
We are in the middle of a major snow storm today. it is beautiful to look out the window but cold and blustery to be out there shoveling or walking the dog.

I will be leaving soon for my week’s residency at Wilkes U., Wilkes-Barre, PA. It is hard to believe that if all goes as planned I will receive a Master Degree in Creative Writing in June 2014. It’s been quite a ride! The teachers have been excellent and the online classes stimulating. The input from my mentor has been a dream.

I read a very disturbing book in early December that a media outlet requested I review. I forced myself to finish it but had to tell the requestor that I could not review the book because I could never advise anyone to read it. And I refuse to do negative reviews. It was so disturbing that I had to watch Hallmark Christmas movies night after night to try to get that story out of my head. My husband called them sappy movies, but he watched every one of them with me. I even saw him wipe a few stray tears as he cried watching those sappy movies!

My review of “Women on Poetry: Writing, Revising, Publishing and Teaching”, released by McFarland & Co., 2012 was in the Jan/Feb issue of Working Writer. I’d forgotten about doing the review and submitting it so it was a nice surprise to receive my complimentary copy in the mail. Online issues are free, you can subscribe: workingwriters@aol.com

On December 7th we attended a play, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, at the Bemus Point, NY, Methodist Church. It took our breath away. Fantastic show and performers. All local talent, mostly form within the church, our sixteen year old granddaughter did the lights and had one line from the darkness which she did magnificently, of course! The new sanctuary seats 700 and it is a beautiful building. Our granddaughter, her mom plus thirty eight others from the church are going to Haiti in April on a mission trip. We are proud of her desire to help others and pray for their safety during this adventure. Haiti?!!

I have been so busy with Christmas and preparing for my residency that I do not have any worthy books to report this month. I received several good ones for Christmas. My ‘to read stack of books’ now numbers 37. We made it to see two movies this Christmas season. One is not worth mentioning. But ‘American Hustle’ is truly outstanding. All the actors were at their best. Watching Jennifer Lawrence is just soo entertaining. Her talent defies typecasting! There were many other good movies being released the end of December but they have not made it to our area yet.